Commutator assembling machine



Feb. l2, 1952 E H, KROENER 2,585,792

COMMUTATOR ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed May '7, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet l El. Mo /ffa'sA/sf,

FIM 1 am/vm@ Ar-ronqwsvs.

Feb. 12, 1952 E. H. KROENER COMMUTATOR AssEMBLING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 7, 1945l "lll ' INVENTOR. 2Mo /vf /ffoEA/Ef, BY

ATTORNEYS.

5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTRNEYs.

Feb 12, 1952 E. H. KROENER COMMUTATOR AssEMBLING MACHINE Filed May 7, 1945 Feb- 12, 1952 E. H. KROENER 2,585,792

' coMMuTAToR ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed May '7, 19115 5 sheets-sheet 4 9 Ima V "10j 101% l 114+ 1118.11. y E610' INVENToR.

.Bi/*Wauw E. H. KROENER COMMUTATOR ASSEMBLING MACHINE Feb. 12, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 7, 1945 i INVENTOR. fL/wo f1. 70E/VE?, www I r @lfm ATTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. l2, 1952 COMMUTATOR ASSEMBLING MACHINE Elmo H. Kroener, Franklin, Ohio, assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Third National Bank and Trust Company of Dayton, Dayton,

Ohio

Application May 7, 1945, serial No. 592,467

13 Claims.

In application for Letters Patent Serial No. 534,498 led May 6, 1944, now Patent No. 2,394,955, granted February 12, 1946, by Walter C. Weber is described a machine for assembling commutator bars orl segments with interlying mica strips, using a ring shaped form within a holder which is removable, and which is arranged to grip the assembly and hold it together during the insertion into the segment assembly of a sleeve and retaining collars, and the upsetting thereof to retain the ring shaped structure .in permanent position. In this machine the segments are fed flatwise, one at a time, to the space Within the removable holder, and are held by a pair of rubber faced revolving members or heads which come into engagement with the ends of the segments as they are inserted. Also in this machine there is provided in connection with one of the heads, a small platform or fm- Vger which projects into the space between the heads and Within the removable tool, so as to` provide a radially extending support for the rst of the segments to be thrust between the rvtating rubber faced heads. Thereafter the previous segment supports the next one until the final segment is thrust into place, whereupon the cycle of the machine as arranged comes to an end, the rotating heads and the small platform are withdrawn and a portion of the tool is manipulated to clamp the assembly tightly, whereupon the tool is withdrawn for assembling with the sleeve and collars.

The present invention has as its primary object, the replacing of hand Work in connection with the various operations required in the former machine. As one item, the operations are controlled by hydraulic power, the controls being in the form of valves, a control drum sequence mechanism being provided With stops or abutments which can be set to supply various elements with uid in accordance with the timed cycle of the apparatus. The operations are performed by means of pistons which may have either spring or hydraulic returns.

Commutators of various sizes and with vari- Y ous numbers of bars per commutator present a wide variety of conditions, requiring adjustments for fully automatic operation, and the indexing of the parts, and inter-action of the several mechanisms if done automatically must be done positively and in proper sequence. Thus it has been necessary to develop various hydraulic and mechanical devices which will accomplish the various movements. There have also been improvements in the several devices of the Weber 'machine above referred to.

In the drawings and the specification that follow, there is illustrated and described the embodiment of the invention which has been placed in operation; and by describing it in full, it is not intended to exclude modifications in the structures described, so long as they fall within the inventive concepts inherent in the described structure, as to which reference is hereby made `to the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of my invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the machine with parts broken away and other parts in section.

Figure 3 is a rear elevational View with parts broken away.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a sectional view of the receiving tool taken on line 6 6 of Figure 7.

Figure '7 is a view taken on the line 1 1 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a front elevation of one of the valve members.

Figure 9 is a section taken on the line 9 9 of Figure 8.

Figure l0 is a front elevation of another valve.

Figure 11 is a section taken on the line II-ll of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is an enlarged view of the work heads with parts broken away and parts in section.

Figure 13 is a section on line l3-I 3 of Figure 1.

Figure 14 is an hydraulic control system of the machine.

Referring generally to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, the frame work of the machine is shown at I, the valve chest or hydraulic manifold at 2, the valve operating drum vat 3. What may be termed the work table is shown at 4, this being secured in a space left for it in the main framework, and havin-g an apron lia secured to the frame. The slotted structure for holding the gravity feed stack of mica strips is shown at 5. The two rubber faced heads which grasp the ends of the segments as they thrust from machine by the segment feed (and which index around to receive additional segments) are shown at 6, and 6a, in Figures 2 and 3 and the receiving tool is generally indicated at l, heldin adjusted relation on the work table, as will be described.

An initial drive motor is shown at 8 in Figure 14, and is combined with an hydraulic pump 9. A uid motor 9a, is provided to rotate the drum 3 3, and all of the other parts of the machine are operated by hydraulic power.

The receiving tool v(Figs. 6 and 7) In its general structure and mode of operation the receiving tool I is alike to that shown and described in the Weber patent above noted. There are three standards, see especially Figure 7, on the table l-the standard I'0, which has a slotted pad II on the top thereof, and an upwardly projecting post I2 carrying an adjustable abutment pin IS-the standard |4 divided into ears which support a pivot pin I5 for a bell crankv IG-and the standard Il, which is equipped with an abutment plate I8, and is {grooved asv indicated at I9, see Figures 4 and 7, to'rec'eivea'lp on the receiving tool which slides into thegroove and engages that portih of the abutment plate |8, which bridges the groove.

i The tool itself, of which the main frame portion is indicated at is constructed to provide a bearing 23a for oneend of a thrust rod 20. Pivoted in a horizontally etended slotted portion |911, of the frame adjacent this bearingis an operating bell cranklever 2|, which has its short arm lyingover the exposed end of the thrust rod 29. The other end i the lever is formed with a latching face as at 22. `The bell crank i6 when it is rocked, as will be described, engages the lever 2| and pushes it toward the body ofthe frame 'I of the tool. The result --is to push the thrust rod lengthwise of the tool frame, a latch 23 pivoted to the frame, and which is Ypressed by a-spring pin 24, engages the latch face 22 and has two steps formed therein. Thel cuter step simply holds the bell crank 2| when it is not pressing on the thrust rod,fwherelas the inner step (as shown Figure 6), holds push rod. At thisV point ears 23, four in number,

project upwardly and downwardly from the end of the frame and serve to receive mounting screws 2. The mounting screws engage the end. portions 28 of a steel part 29, which houses the assembly retaining ring.

, Thepart 22see Figure 6, has a central hole through it which accommodates an extension 3! of the thrust rod 2t. The portion S is made smaller than the remainder of the thrust rod, as shown, and engages a resilient ring 3|, see Figure 7, held within the part 29. The structure of the ring 3| is such that it is thicker at the middle, tapers toward its ends, and has its ends separated so that it is an incomplete annulus. The part 29 has a circular opening or jaw, which houses the ring 3|. This jaw is likevwise an incomplete ring, and it is through the Vthus constricting the ring due to Vthe proportioning of the parts. Thus an annular assembly of segments can be setup in the ringfand then rgripped by the ring by operating the`bell crank 2|, which pushes the thrust rod, which in turn forces the ring to constricting position.

The reason for makingthe jaw element dey tachable from the frame 1 is to accommodate different sized commutators. Due to the loca- Vthe abutment plate I3. 'main casting of the tool has a pin 33 depending therefrom which slides in the slot in the pad dropped into place, it is located in crosswise relatie'n'b'y the vpin '33 in the slot in the pad II, and in lengthwise position by the step I8, I9, and by the engagement of the abutment pin I3 with the bell crank 2|.

Vabutment screwl la, serves to oppose dislodgment when the bell crank I6 is operated (Figure 6). f Y.

It will be notedtha-t the rear abutment stud rI3 does'notdirectly 'engage the thrust rodv 20. An adjustable Vscrew 2|a, in the pivoted yarm'of the bell crank 2| Vengages the end of the rod 2i). 'The stud I3 engages the bell crank, thus permitting an'a'djus'tment of the clamping action ofrod 23. The Areason for this construction is that when the lbell crank is rocked to push forward-'the rod 2ythe rear-portionof the bell crank movesfto the right (Figs. Band 7),

and as a result the whole tool-can shift 'slightly to theleft, leaving the center ofthe splitring 3| where it was originally. This shifting -vis caused by theengagement betweenA the resilient ring Vanda demountable supporting block lI'I, supra. (See also Figure 4;) In 'effect what happens is that the tool shifts to the left while the split ring retains its original center. permits the indexing heads to be-retracted after the tool has'be'en clamped.

VLet us suppose that -the receiving tool has been dropped into position as indicated and a Commutator assembly has been set up within the're'silien't ring of lthe tool, with thebell 4crank 2| in-its outer position. The machine is arrangedv at l-this juncture automatically, with the finishing of the assembly, -to cause the tip 34 of a piston 35 to `be'pushedupw-ardly, with vthe result of clamping the work invplace, withthe Ybell crank-2| 'moving to its inner latched posisupported from the table portionfd, and is caused t9 move by oil under'pressure from the passage @38, see Figure 14. A spring Ia, acting on the bell crank I6, will return thepiston 35 -to starting position.

Once the tool ris `thus V'c'zla'mped Aaround the assembly, the tool can be lifted away, and transierred to a press which is ,indicated at 31, Fig. 14, and which 'may be hydraulically supplied from the assembling machine. This press is used to insert the sleeve and collars'and upset them' to complete the'assembly for machining, if necessary, etc.

In Figure 7 has 'beenindicate'd an adjustable abutment screw 38a, located in the Vstandard I1, which may be used for adjusting the position of the standard ina groove' of the table whereby the outer end of the tool when installing it in the machine for a'n assembling operation can be de'nitely located.

While the tool' as described 'is bodily removable for further work on the -as's'efnbly of' c'oinnutator segments and insulation, 'it 'is evident'that'it yAs so arranged when the tool is This ' (Figure 4).

-the indexing piston ,as shown in Figure 5. slide member 45a. rests `on .a .member 33 fixed in vthe frame.Y The key connecting slide 45a with Atrip the latch 23 to loosen its grip on the assembly after it has been moved through a staking position as by the press 31.

The segment ejector (Figure 4).

As already indicated, a supply of mica pieces for insulation lbetween the commutator segments is placed in the holder 5 from which the "mica pieces feed down by gravity. This is the same as in the former Weber machine, already referred to. Mounted and guided in achannel in the frame which is closed bythe projecting frame Work of, the holder 5 is a main slide member 45a This slide is connected by a key with a block 39 mounted on a rod 40, which isk hydraulically operated, and of a detailed construction which will`be described lin connection with The rod 4G extends through a slot 38a inthe member 38. tion 4i of the rod formsV an internal piston and is subject to constant hydraulic pressure in a cylinder 43 at the left in the figure.

-Sure in a cylinder 44 vat the right in the figure through the port 42, which pressure can overcome, due to the larger area of the rod, the pressure on the internal piston portion 4 i, thus pushing 'the rod to the left. The rod is exposed between the cylinder 43 toward the rear of the frame and the cylinder 44 toward the front of the frame, and it is on the intervening portion that the block 39 is mounted.

Referring again to the slide 45a, it is equipped with an operating portion 45, pinned to it so as to slide in a shallower channel arranged to support this portion 45 on a line just below the center of the retaining tool jaw. The outer end of the portion 45, as indicated at 46, is special to the particular size of commutator segment which is being used on the job at hand. Hence the supplemental sliding mem-ber is changed with the job and merely drops over the stud on the main slide 45a. A demountable supporting block 41 underlies the advance end portion 46, to accommodate segments of dierent size and is also changed in changing the job in the machine along with the operating portion 45 and the receiving tool itself. The deniountable block 41 is removably secured to the member 38.

In time with theindexing device to be described below, and operating when it comes to rest after each step of movement7 oil under pressure is injected into the port 42. This causes the f rod 48 to move to the left (Figure 4); and then is to thrust the pair of pieces into the vopen jaw l of the receiving tool, and into the gripvof theindexing heads, which themselves function-asado the indexing devices or sleeves in the-Weber machine. l

In Figure 4 a small diameter end por- A The indexing andholing heads'(F`igure 12)'.

We havealready referred to Figures 1, 2 and 3 which show the rubber faced heads 6, 6a, into the vgrip of which the segments and mica pieces are '5 thrust, and which rotate around step by step following each insertion. The two members are shown, Figure 12, with the rubber facing rings 48.1 The machine will be provided with fingers (not shown but described in said Weber patent for depressing the rubber at the point of insertion of the segments). The heads are mounted on rotary and reciprocating plungers 43, 5d, respectively.

The head tot on the plunger i is provided with a T-shaped finger 5I, which slides in a slot 52 with the head (see Figure 12). rFne axially projecting portion 53 of this linger carries a small platform vplate 54 which is normally held by means of aspring 54a, in a position to lie directly within the Zone occupied by the commutator segments when ejected by the pusher' into 'the space between the two rubber facing rings 48. At vthe start of an operation the head 6a is placed in a position such that the platform lies directly beneath the position onto which the first segment of an assembly is pushed, thus serving as a support for it. Thereafter as the head Sa revolves or indexes around step by step, the platform moves with it.

v'When the assembly is finished, the platform will naturally be included in it and must be withdrawn. At this point of time the retaining tool will not have been actuated to grip the `assembly tightly. But just as the timing of the machine arranges forv the gripping of the retaining tool, an abutment plate 55 (Figs. 1, 12 and 13), held on the en'd of an hydraulic piston 5t, will be caused to advance. The plate will strike the projecting end of the T-shaped finger 5 i, causing the finger to move, and the small platform to be moved into a position substantially on the axis of the assembly within the retaining tool. Thereupon the member 3a caribe withdrawn, 45 which is accomplished hydraulically, as will now be described. The piston 55 is returned by a spring 55a (shown in Figure 13) at the start of the next commutator assembling operation.

The indexing mechanism operation The object of the indexing mechanism is to rotate the members 6 and 6a around step by step and Withdraw or push them to operative position in time with the other operations of the machine. (See Figs. 2, 5 and 12.) The two heads 6 and 6a are mounted on the ends of shafts 49 and 50 which are axially aligned. The heads are replaceable for different commutator assemblies, and set screws 51 (Figure 12) engaging in flats 58 on the shafts will hold them demountably in place.

The two shafts enter the gear cases 51a and 58a (Figure 2) respectively and are there keyed and fitted to slide within sleeves 53, which have pinions 6B at their outer ends. A shaft 6l is mounted in the two gear eases and extends across between them, which shaft is rotated step by step. By means of pinions 62 and 63, the shaft engages the sleeve pinions and causes the two g shafts 49 and 50 to rotate in the same direction vwhich in this case is counterclockwise, but without impeding the reciprocation of the shafts.

-It is also necessary to move the shafts in and out within the sleeves which are held against sliding by means of their being provided with i7 thrust nuts xattheir inner ends :opposingtthe pinions Stat their outer ends. The shafts are equipped with channeled 'rings65 engaged each l by a lug 66 mounted Von a reciprocating piston vrod 61, one foreach shaftt. and. "The movef ment of the piston rods thus slides the "shafts in and out of operating position.

The (operation of thepiston rods 4'61 `which hold the lugs 66, vis lalike in both'instancesLThere ports V69u and 65h at `opposite ends. ATherods .themselves are actuated simultaneously .irst'by pressure applied at 'one end of each portion "61 in the cylinders 68, then by pressure applied at the other Vend of each piston 61 inthe other.4v

cylinders 68 of the same pairs.

For operating the indexing shaft'l adevice is supplied ofV the type already referred to for operating the segment pusher. A casting 10 (Fig.

5), embodying spaced cylinders is mounted within the gear case. One of the cylinders has a port 1I therein and the other -a port'1lb therein.

The pawl carrier 13 is mounted on the piston rod iny between the cylinder portions 12. YThe Vpiston rod 61a has a port 1m therein and is".

cored out to form a piston cylinder'14 into which cylinder, oil will flow through the port 1Ia. Within the cylinder 14 is ra piston 15, Whichacts against an adjustable abutment plug`16 in the end of the main cylindricalecasting. Oilfrom the port 1l as permitted by the annulargroove 11 enters the inner cylinder Vand pushes the small piston 15, thus causing the main piston rod to kmove in the opposite direction. The port 1I is .are two spaced cylindersfor each.rod'61,`with fio small piston and move the mainpiston `against the constant pressure cn the:smal1;piston. As

a resulta momentary impulse of hydraulicf'pressure, immediately relaxed, through the port 1lb, will cause a complete .reciprocation of lthe-main piston lrod 61a, `and move the vpawl c-arr-ierto and fro, the .length of movement .being gauged by positioning the abutment 16.

'Mounted on the shaft 6I is 'a ratchet-:pinion 18, held against motionin one directionibymeans of a ball 18h, and spring pin 18a,thecb'a1l riding in a cam groove in the bore of the-pinion. .The

pawlv 13a when it moves with the momentary n impulse from lthe hydraulic 'controlspassesiover the ratchet pinion and on, ther return stroke under 'the constant pressureimpulse, .movesltheratchet pinion one notch.

The shaft 6I extends out :through :the .side .of fs the left hand gear case, and is equippedxwith an operatingknob 19 (Eig. 2). .'Byvthismeans "the heads can berotatedx-by r'handzto@bringi-the vsmall platform on the Vhead 6a to the :proper position for the start of Van;operationgon:agit/Ten :1l

assembling `job. Thereafter tno initial indexing is required since a vcycle yrequiresithatzthefrplatlform be removed from thewsameipositioninv a completed assembly that it occupiedzwhemamew assembly waslstarted.

'When shifting the numbers'of strokeszcfithe indexing operation for -various numbers of ycorin- `mutator bars per assembly,'thefratchetfpinion 'E8-is changed so that fora'given single movement of the 4ratchet pinion ya A'different--:step:of

movement .applied to the two heads 6. and v6a. :Thusiit vtakes a different number of Vratchet movefmentsto completefan assembly. Also the ratchet vpawl Vcarrier is 'adjustable for stroke by adjustment of the abutment 16. A, simple Wayof demountably securing the ratchet pinion 18 is to equip theshaft -6-I with a fixed collar Gla and hold the pinion in place thereon by means of .screws 6 Ib (FiguresZand 5) 'The#hydraulicpowerv and control devices .Referring 'first to thecontrol diagram of Fig- -urell,` .the motor ,8 is shown, and the hydraulic fpump. .Thefluid motor Saisshown which op- Verateszjthe :rotating drum.3, notshown on this di- :agra-m. .;A..speed:controlindicated at.80, which fcontrols thei'speed ofthe drum 3, and a start valve 81'whichsupplieszinitial hydraulic powerrto the drum, .are.shown. This valve has a handle Y31a (showninliguresl .and 2).. As soon as the drum ceasestorevolva .all :.parts of the machine stop 'having completed .the-cyclelast above reviewed. There'isanxoil sump. 82, .and a pressure controlling -and relief valve ...83.in the linefrom the hydraulic pump.

f-Ihedirectipressurefrom.the relief valve Aflows through pipe -85 toa .branch connection from whicha-a pipe vllt-.enters .the valve chest or hydraulicvmanifoldiz and pipes A8.1 and 88 extend `to thesegment pusherinternal piston 4i (Figure 14), and .the .ratchet .drive internal piston '1 5 through1port1 l .(Figure 5) In the. diagram .of Figure .14 Where there are -two pipes emerging from rthe -valve chest one 'abovelthe other,` the. two .pipes .are controlled vby one :valve assembly, -Where there is but one pipe then thevalveonlyI operates from the valve chest in one direction. .The/pipe .189 extends to thefull diameter end of the piston t46, and the'pipe 96 extends to the'full diameter end of the piston 61a, i. e., thefport'l I-b. It will be1noted'that one valve assembly .applies pressure intermittently to the pipes-"189 and 90, thus obtaining interspaced operationssof:thef-idleoperation of the pusher and the idle pawl 4and ratchet operation of .the indexing driveshaft tlfwhich will be followed by the fconstant'pressure position operation, of these two devices in linterspaced timing.

Thevpipe `9| extends from the constant pressurein thevalve chest to the starting valve from which pipe-Bla extends to the speed control Valve from which pipe-'Sib extends to the drummotor 9a whence pipe -9 lc extends to the sump. The pipe 92 extends 'from the valve chest to the starting valve, and normally supplies the hydraulic fluid throughvalve 8| to the drum motor. This 4control valve 8l may be of any type, such as are-available on the market as two-Way valves.

When the pipe 92 vis connected through the valve to pipe-Sla, the pipe .'91 is shut off. With the l-machineiat rest, thevalve drum motor may be `started by 'operatingvalve 8| to supply fluid to the-motor-9a through pipe 9| until the valve ydrum'has opened the valve connected'to pipe 92. Then'if the valve 8l isV thrown in the opposite direction the motor iwill 'continue to run with fluid supplied through pipe 92 until the valve on the -fvalve chestautomatically stopsV themotor by cuttingfoff lpipe 92.

'The push toward operating position of .the heads andi-6a is accomplished through pipe.95 having abra-nch 95a, andthe pushvaway fromopl erating position. of. thetwo. heads isaccomplished vthrough pipe SBpcontrolled through vthe other end of the same valve through branch .96a .The

`berlll.

abutment plate which moves the segment supporting platform, indicated in the diagram at 55, is put into operation through the pipe 91, and the piston 35 which clamps the retaining tool is operated through pipe 98. Pipes 91 and 98 are not coupled with a double acting valve.

There is an exhaust passage from the valve chest to the oil sump through pipe 86a.

Referring now to the drum 3 (see Figure 3), it will be noted that it has a series of channels 3a therein, and in the channels may be located abutment pieces 3b which may be shifted from place to place, and secured by screws 3c in rows of holes 3d extending along the boundary walls of the channels. A toothed ring 99 is demountably secured at the one end of the drum and serves to operate the indexing piston and ratchet and the segment pusher. A simple way to make this member 99 demountable is to make it in two halves with screws to enter the holes provided in theV drum for that purpose. The drum rotates once for each operation from start to stop.

There are two types of Valves used in the valve chest. To operate the valves a series of trip fingers |0| are pivoted on the valve chest casting, and extend rearwardly under the projecting ends of the spring plungers of the several valves.

The'iingers have a tapered tooth |02 on their under side which rides on the drum and is engaged by the adjusted abutment members 3b on the drum, there being one of these fingers that -rides on the toothed ring 99, (Figure 9).

I will refer rst to the valve device of the character used for the two members which are op- 'erated by the constant pressure applied to an internal piston, to-wit, the segment pusher and the piston for the indexing ratchet drive (Figs. 8 and 9). In the valve chest there is a passage 89a for connecting up to the pipe 89 to the pusher, and a passage 90a (Figure 9) leading to the pipe 9|) for the ratchet drive. There is also an exhaust passage extending the full length of the chest as indicated at |03 and a full pressure 'passage extending the length of the chest indil 'cated vat |04.

Mounted on the face of the chest to register l with Ythe several passages now noted, is a valve f controls alternately the two ports |||Ja and |||lb which communicate with the full pressure passage |l4. There are ports 89h and 99h connecting with the two passages 89a and 90a respectively, these ports extending into the piston cham- A spring ||2 keeps the valve piston in engagement with the trip finger |0|. The full cylindrical portion ||9 alternately sends pressure through the passages 89h and 99h. Another ,full cylindrical portion connects port 99h to the exhaust when the piston moves to shut off th`e l positive pressure from said port.

Thus when the piston of this valve is pushed in bythe trip finger, the segment feed is caused Vto. operate, and when the piston returns under springpressure the index lratchet is operated.

[Referring to the other valves (see Figures 10 and 11), it has already been noted that all are of the same construction and where there is no double action involved, one side of the valve is simply plugged. The parts which are the same in these other valves are marked with like numbers to those of the valve and casing already described. The difference lies in the piston, and ducts which control pressure admission to the two outlet ports to the devices to be operated.

Thus the full pressure passage |99 in the valve chest has a single port H3 which is extended in the valve casing into the piston cylinder thereof, and two short full cylindrical portions H4 and H5, admit this pressure alternately to the two outlet ports which as an illustration are ports h and 99h leading to the chest ports 95o and ic. This valve structure will operate the two pistons 6l of the index head reciprocating de- Vices, first in one direction and then in the other.

Thus in Figure 11, when the valve piston is in the position shown, exhaust is connected to pipe 95 through port'gb and pressure is admitted to pipe 95 through port 95h, the piston rods 91 are then pushed inwardly to their regular position of operation. When the valve is pushed up by the trip finger, however, the pressure is out off from the port 95e which is then connected with the exhaust and the pressure passes through port 95h and 99e, thus withdrawing the heads from operation. Since the machine stops at this instant, and the drum pauses with the two heads withdrawn, it requires a starting up of the mechanism in order to cause the valve piston to drop and the two heads to move in again. Pipes 91, 98 and 92 are supplied with pressure or connected with exhaust by using but one of the outlet ports of the valves of the type now described. In such a case a plug is inserted into the passages which are marked 95h or 95h in Figure 11.

A valve of the type last `described is not so quick acting as the rst described type. One of the second type is used to stop the drum motor, as already noted, through pipe 92; and since the drum stops with the valve rod |99 elevated, as soon as the drum'starts out through the operation of the valve 8| the piston |99 of the drum controlled valve will fall, and take over the oil supply to the drum motor.

To start the machine into operation after it has been stopped, due to the' stopping of the drum, requires a manual operation. This will be accomplished by means of the hand lever 8| a as already described. At once the drum starts to revolve. Those devices which were operated at the conclusion of its operation such as the withdrawing plungers for the two heads ii and 5a which were the last things to move, will come into operation. The location of the stops on the drum control the relative timing of the various devices described.

By a change of ratchet for the indexing drive shaft, and substituting a new toothed member 99 on the control drum, a different number of rotating steps for the two indexing and retaining heads is provided for. By changing the supporting shelf for the segments, different sized segments are provided for, this requiring also 'a changing of the upper pusher member. By changing the retaining tool jaw member, different sizes of assembly are provided for. By changing heads on the rotating and reciprocating plungers different diameter assemblies are provided for. By shifting the timing lugs on the drum the point of operation of the several valves is-'adj-usted tofproper relative timing'. `VInsofar Yas concerns the vsegment feedand theindexing rotation `of -thetwo heads; this isf'positively prevented from gettingsout of time because the same valve plunger operates both members. In the machine as indicatedin the diagram, it yrequires ai hand operation to operate the staking press, butthis could'be coupled AupA with the valve chest anddrum, if there were-a turret Voperation'for the retaining tool,this turret operation also being controlled'from thedrum and valve chest.

Since the'operation of the several mechanisms has been detailed during'the. description, no further-description'of'operation of the complete machine'will beset'forth; save to state that-in the structrershown the retaining tool will first be installed, after the machine has been Vset up for a given operation; the headsindexed around to bring theA supporting platform to the proper position, by. hand opera-tion, andthe starting lever then swung overto release the drum -for operation.

Having. thusI described-.my invention, what I claim as new'anddesire to. secure by Letters Patent is: Y p

1. In arcommutatorfassemblymachine: awork holdercomprisinga pair'of opposed heads havingL compressible material on` their 'opposed faces between which material 'segments maybe inserted; shaftsl onwhich the heads Vare mounted'. meansfor controlling the shafts comprising a sleeve surrounding each shaft and connected thereto' soasz to 'rotatably drive the: shaft but allow*- for slidingmov'ement ofv theshaft in the sleeve; step bystep" driving gearing: connected to i" the sleevesfor'rotating the same and the iheads,

areciprocablemeansffor each shaft and con- Y nectd thereto to slide the same' within the sleeves for moving therheadsitogether or apart,

and power means for movingsaid reciprocabler.

means; al work retaining: means comprising a frame, aV thrust' rod in saidframe; a-housing detachably mounted in oneendof saidrframe, an extensionon-said'rod,.said housing having/a bearing for said'rodf'extension, a 'split=- resilient?v` ring .'maintained'within a' jawY providedfin said -l housing, said'rodA extension engaging'said ring, rearwardv andforward abutments' locatedlfin said machine and betweenf which' abutmentssaid frame andhousing are mounted so -asto: posi Y tion. said jaw and said'retaining.' ring-between saidI opposed heads-1 in'position to VAsurround -the segments 'inserted between `said `ropposed. faoesffa lever Vpivotally f mounted onl said frame' f andarranged when rocked topush. said thrust.- rods lengthwise and' -therebyy causen sai'df ring toV be Y constrictedbyl saidjaw-'about said segmentsg'a-nd means:l

4. 'I'he-.mach.i.ne of claim 2 in which said common controlmeanshas. mechanism. to stopall. of saidvariouspower means. after acycleof 'operae tion. andata time Whensaid .reciprocable .means have been moved to bring the shafts apart Yfrom l2 each-.other and said lever'h'as been-rocked"to effect.constriction of said ring about'thets'egments-inserted.between the opposed. faces of said heads.-

Y .5.. A..work. holder comprising Va pairof opposed headshaving compressible material on their op'- posed,V faces between. which material segments may.. be. inserted, shafts on which the heads. are mounted,..means for controlling.V the shaftscom.- prisingasleeve surroundingeac-h shaft and vcon'- nectedftheretoso as -to rotatably drive the shaft but-allow-for sliding movementof the shaft in thesleeve, step by step .driving gearingconnected tofthesleeves for rotating the same and the heads, a-.reciprocablemeans foreach shaft and conneotedA thereto to. slide the. same within 'the sleeves for-.moving the heads together or apart, and .pov/er. means' for movingv said reciprocable means;

Y6l:The-combination.of claim 5 including power means connected.. tor said gearing for. effecting movement of both sleeves simultaneously, and

Ycommon control means .for bothof saidpower means.

'7. TheA combination. of claim.v 6in whichsaid common` wcontrol means .includes mechanism .for altering-v relative movement.' of said.. power. means. 8'; The combination.. of claim 6 in which .said

`common control means hasmechanism to. stop saidvpower means after a cycle of operationand ata time` when saidreciprocable'means have been moved tofbring the shafts' apartfrom each other.. Y

9.y A Work-holder comprising :a pair of opposed heads having compressible 'material on their. opposed faces between which material segments may be` inserted, shafts on whichv the Vheads are mounted, means `forcontrolling the shafts comprisingfasleeve surrounding each .shaft vand con- -nected thereto so'as to rotatably drive the shaft position to -a position axially with respect to said opposed faces,VV and common control-means for both of saidlpower means.

10. The work holder of claim 9 in which said platform isfiXed to one end of an armr of a T-shaped member, a. slot in said-one head, the

prising asleeve surrounding eachshaft. and connected. thereto so as .to.rotatably drivethe shaft butallow for sliding movementoftheshaftin the sleeve, step by step driving gearing Voonnected to the sleeves for rotating the same and the heads, a reciproca-ble means for each shaft and connected thereto to slide the same within the sleeves for moving the heads together or apart, and power means for moving said reciprocable means, said step by step driving gearing including a, shaft, a, pinion on each of said sleeves, other pinions engaging said rst mentioned pinions and said shaft, and power means connected to said shaft whereby rotation of said shaft results in simultaneous rotation of said sleeves.

12. The work holder of claim 11 in which said last mentioned power means comprises a ratchet pinion mounted on said shaft, a pawl adapted toengage said ratchet pinion, and reciprocable means to which said pawl is fastened.

13. In combination a rotatable head for use in a work holder, a T-shaped member, a slot in said head, one arm of said T-shaped member being slidable in said slot, a platform fixed to the other arm of said T-shaped member, said platform being located beyond an end of said head, the arm on which said platform is xed extending REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 593,282 Short Nov. 9, 1897 861,105 Genor July 23, 1907 1,706,309 Miller et al 1 Mar. 19, 1929 1,899,325 Hardman et al Feb. 8, 1933 1,979,434 Baker et al Nov. 6, 1934 2,016,654 Shippy et al. Oct. 8, 1935 2,300,457 Mariotte Nov. 3, 1942 2,369,466 Kylin etal Feb. 13, 1945 2,390,170 Poole Dec. 4, 1945 

